Division of Forestry Strategic Direction
Statewide Forest Strategy 2010
Statewide Forest Assessment 2010
Forest Sustainability Framework
Statewide Forest Plan 2004
A3. Issue: Some species are declining.
Comment #: 1
Not a major issue.
Comment #: 2
Need more research into fixing the butternut problem.
Comment #: 3
A given.
Comment #: 4
I always wondered why we worried at all about jack pine, which is surely not a beautiful tree, but I have seen some forest areas (in Chequamegon National Forest) planted, small trees supported by "cages" why? Is it just to attract the Kirtland's warbler? If that is possible, O.K. to re-plant jack pine.
Comment #: 5
Am I in error in believing in favorable that jack pine is reducing?
Comment #: 6
Diversity extremely important
Comment #: 7
Jack Pine is about worthless.
Comment #: 8
But lets not make the same mistake the Menominees made when experts proclaimed that rockelm (ulmus thomasil) would resist attack by dutch elm, large volume lost, cut all mature butternot (diseased or not).
Comment #: 9
If you don't try to increase the acreage for the declining tree species. You should help to find markets for the new species which are in greater numbers.
Comment #: 10
I planted 30 butternut, to "help"
Comment #: 11
Goal: Bioengineer disease resistant strains.
Comment #: 12
If you can control some disease or keep desirable species it's a plus.
Comment #: 13
Plant more of this type - all you know to plant is pines and spruce of some sort
Comment #: 14
Lete nature take its course
Comment #: 15
I have planted 7 acres of white spruce and red pine the spruce are drying up the foresters do not know why if they don't know who should?
Comment #: 16
Would be wonderful if desease -resistant strains culd be developed and propogated.
Comment #: 17
See commentss on A1
Comment #: 18
Are genetically improved species a viable consideration? We have an experimental European larch plantation that is growing successfully beyond our greatest expectation!
Comment #: 19
American chestnut? It was never a part of WI original forest to my knowledge. I can not believe you include American chestnut in this issue, very misleading. It was NOT EVER part of Wisconsin's Flora, at least not within the past millenium!!!
Comment #: 20
Also: effects of high deer populations on Canada yew and hemlock and white cedar regeneration, as well as numerous herbaceans species. (especially orchid and lily families.)
Comment #: 21
Harvest practices could be tailored to promote declining species. Prescribed burning probably not the most cost effective.
Comment #: 22
I would like to see more butternut and chestnuts
Comment #: 23
Too much red-pine plantations
Comment #: 24
Are we talking scrub oak or northern red oak
Comment #: 25
Let's not forget the oak wilt and gypsy moth.
Comment #: 26
We should not replace Hardwood forest with Pine.
Comment #: 27
The disease problem is nature at work
Comment #: 28
In A1 you say you are losing some oak forests and in A3 you say some oak species are replacing jack pine. I think - the first statement is for the south and in the north - pin oak may replace some jack pine
Comment #: 29
Yes this is happening
Comment #: 30
Research should be primary focus. Disease and inssect infestation will have to be addressed forever.
Comment #: 31
Lack of proper management and commitment to management (ie capitol) hemlock, cedar
Comment #: 32
Effects of excessive deer herd.
Comment #: 33
Counties are planting Red Pine in oak-Jack pine complexes-should be discouraged.
Comment #: 34
Not native to Wisconsin to begin with.
Comment #: 35
In this ara I see lack of hardwood replacement. Most all red pine, need more oak woodlands.
Comment #: 36
5
Comment #: 37
Pay more attention to ecosystems than to individual species.
Comment #: 38
I would like to see the American elm come back.
Comment #: 39
Does jack pine have any economic value other than as pulp wood?
Comment #: 40
Where/whats value of butternut/jack pine let's make box elder a noxious tree or an invasive tree that's worthless
Comment #: 41
try to make species recover
Comment #: 42
There has not been a problem on our woodland - the elm was nearly all gone a few years ago, but now there are many time more than anytime in my memory and I am 86 years old. Butternut is rapidly on the decline. I am planting American chestnut every year.
Comment #: 43
Encourage replanting of declined species - with disease resistant varieties.
Comment #: 44
Aspen or white poplar or yellow p are really takeing over in cutover areas our farm is back to White Pine and Red Pine.
Comment #: 45
We can not save all species
Comment #: 46
Chestnut and butternut not worthy of mention.
Comment #: 47
This is a sad but inevitable part of humans in Wisconsin. Lets accept the current forest conditions and use them to our best advantage. Can't bring them back.
Comment #: 48
Yes. I see this on my tree farm.
Comment #: 49
Landowners should be offered endangered tree species at cost if their lands are capable of growing them.
Comment #: 50
Before we start addressing the decreased acreage of the above species, we should first decide what the ideal acreage of these species should be.
Comment #: 51
We need to keep our diversity among tree species. Monocultures (or reduced number of species) have limited wildlife appeal and are more suseptable to disease.
Comment #: 52
Amer. Chestnut should be considered an exotic - Amer. Elm is still here - just in smaller diameter classes - Oak succession to maple probl. Cannot be reversed on good sites -
Comment #: 53
Efforts should be made to increase populations of threatened species.
Comment #: 54
Some Jack pine types (re: savanahs, barrons) will need prescribed fire in order to maintain unique native communities.
Comment #: 55
Is this a natural cycle?
Comment #: 56
Manage for biodiversity, putting highest priority first on the currently rarest natural ecological communities.
Comment #: 57
What next?
Comment #: 58
Agree, but don't waste time trying to reintroduce trees that disease has removed.
Comment #: 59
Why plant red pine when it has so little value.
Comment #: 60
Strongly agree - see individual comments at end - it is sinful.
Comment #: 61
Where were the chestnut forests?
Comment #: 62
Where there are imported casises that should be stopped or prevented.
Comment #: 63
Oak wilt is reducing the oak population.
Comment #: 64
White cedar and hemlock are not regenerating.
Comment #: 65
Maybe a part of A1?
Comment #: 66
Await development of disease resistant genotypes and then reintroduce to Wisconsin forests.
Comment #: 67
Rarely see a butternut tree. Usually the nice elm we see are out by themselves in the middle of a farm field away from any other trees.
Comment #: 68
Fire is way exaggerated in people's beliefs about natural disturbances - passenger pigeons, elk, bison, beavers, porcupines, et al. had lots of effects on the landscape that are missing in part or all of the state now. Out of sight, out of mind.
Comment #: 69
Research can be used to favor species. For examply Jack Pine CAN BE regenerated. It takes no more work than red pine plantation establishment.
Comment #: 70
Where did the diseases come from?
Comment #: 71
In our area planting is Pine mostly
Comment #: 72
I see no benefit in jack pine in comparison with other prine species
Comment #: 73
If mother nature take she will provide the needed forest maybe not what we think
Comment #: 74
Add cedar and maybe hemlock from deer damage
Comment #: 75
Let natural succession take place as nature (including mans input) selects its own species
Comment #: 76
Private planting take care of this
Comment #: 77
Only to the point of trying to develop a resistent tree or control the pest
Comment #: 78
Must not get to involved when we see there is nothing we can do. (Ex. Gypsy moth and Blister Rust)
Comment #: 79
We shoul have a state forest plan to refer to, but to have a cure in 10 yrs. Is not reasonable
Comment #: 80
In our land Jack Pine is reseeding itself.
Comment #: 81
Tree farmers should be notified of diseases and bugs that are moving into an area and what protective steps might be taken.
Comment #: 82
Can't do anything about elm, butter nut, etc. Can effectively maintain oak in re-introducing ? To promote eco-system restoration.
Comment #: 83
Make sure diseases not brought into Wisonsin first place.
Comment #: 84
It is a shame these species were reduced by disease. Replanting by more resistant stock should be encouraged. State operated nursuries could provide seedlings.
Comment #: 85
In my area pine acreage is flourishing
Comment #: 86
We can resist to a limited extend species change but only to the extent that environmental and economic change can be halted.
Comment #: 87
We need to maintain diversity
Comment #: 88
The elm, butternut and chestnut should be the main focus. The jack pin can care for itself.
Comment #: 89
The oak, in the central part of Wisconsin is a doomed tree because of the oak blight. In a few years the read oak especially will be extinct.
Comment #: 90
Why diseases like dutch elm and other bugs appear there should be an effort to cut them and got them out of the woods
Comment #: 91
I don't see this trend as something of high priority
Comment #: 92
The issue is health of whatever species are currently growing.
Comment #: 93
Need to research and develop resistant species to re-establish elms, chestnuts
Comment #: 94
plan to reintroduce them
Comment #: 95
But I would emphasize deer impact on hemlock, white cedar, etc.
Comment #: 96
Yes, but only to explain that loss of individual species are the result of natural causes and succession, not to the point of action to "save" these species.
Comment #: 97
Must be able to control disease.
Comment #: 98
Maintain diversity
Comment #: 99
White birch also seems to be decreasing. Probably from disease.
Comment #: 100
Is the new acreage being replaced by other pine species because of red pine conversion?
Comment #: 101
Again, we need to push the use of proper management techniques needed to maintain some species, i.e. fire, etc.
Comment #: 102
With changes in land use, an aging forest and lack of disturbance, what should we expect?
Comment #: 103
Lots of people want to say that they have an oak forest. I think that may change with gypsy moth coming into the state, though it won't wipe out the oak I think that people won't be quite so excited to have a pure oak forest and will move towards a more diverse species stand
Comment #: 104
Pioneering species overall are disappearing due to the lack of fire, the aesthetic impacts of clear-cutting and those species which are declining due to disease.
Comment #: 105
oak and jack pine habitat types must be managed/maintained as major habitat types in WI
Comment #: 106
We are not in the natural range of American Chestnut.
Comment #: 107
A casual mention, as there's not much we can do about most of these. The jack pine is an exception, in that this is more of a management decision.
Comment #: 108
Many Jack Pine stands are established on very dry sites. Regeneration can be successful without fire. Foresters need to evaluate sites and keep jack pine a componet of the landscape.
Comment #: 109
Differences in jack pine serotinous traits influence regeneration possibilities. Improvement in jack pine seed sources available for planting. Potential for direct seeding. Deer browse damage on regenerating jack pine.
Comment #: 110
I work more with the good quality oak type, which is being replaced, through cutting and natural succession, to red maple and northern hardwoods.
Comment #: 111
THe diversity of our forests should be representative of natural systems. Large monotypic stands are generally not representative of natural conditions.
Comment #: 112
There's been progress in developing disease resistance types (eg. chestnut blight resistance American Chestnut trees in Pennsylvania). Restoration studies should be considered in the statewide forest plan. Fire as a tool in managing certain forest types should also be addressed in the plan.
Comment #: 113
Nothing but talk here, again nature will take whatever course it decides.
Comment #: 114
I thought American Chestnut was brought into the state and not a native tree. Butternut is a major concern.
Comment #: 115
A comprehensive plan needs to address each timber type in the state, provide an explanation of history, current status, and future trends. A stategy for the future must then be developed based upon this information.
Comment #: 116
Need to broaden the scope of this issue to include fauna. More than just trees are affected.
Comment #: 117
The loss of pine barrens, with the jack pine component is sad.
Comment #: 118
The loss of pine barrens, with the jack pine component is sad.
Comment #: 119
Again, I am most concerned with the decline in white birch as a component in our northern forests.
Comment #: 120
Pj is being managed for its value as a pulp product. Few land managers are managing or doing anything to assure that Pj returns to any site. The resource is being harvested not replaced. As for elm, butternut and chestnut, disease and no control are their problems. Good red oak is in the same place Pj is. Too much harvesting, not enough overall management.
Comment #: 121
Emphasis on exotic pathogens should continue. Native type pathogens are part of a natural cycle, and while they can be devastating, they are a normal process
Comment #: 122
The forest should be managed for diversity in plant and animal life, and resources should be allocated to maintain this e.g. development and distribution of naturally ocurring resistence to alien diseases.
Comment #: 123
We should be focusing on maintianing tree species that naturally occur in this environment. Encouraging their developement rather than the developement of foreign species of trees not natural to this area.
Comment #: 124
we need a more diverse culture of trees...not single species.
Comment #: 125
As for these diseases not much can be done about that. The resistant individuals that I have seen so far are not at all representative (phenotypically) of the populations that once existed. As for the dissappearance of jack pine forests, two words come to mind: prescribed burns!
Comment #: 126
Global warming and worldwide climate change due to increasing burning of fossil fuels is also changing the composition of Wisconsin's forests. Such trends are, unfortunately beyond the State's control.
Comment #: 127
Concern should be with loss of communites not necessarily decline of single species.
Comment #: 128
same answer
Comment #: 129
I believe that the overall health of Wisconsin's ecology is at stake here. Greater diversity in forest types will help to prevent the spread of diseases, offer more diversity in vegetative cover, and guarantee a range of aesthtically pleasing forest communities.
Comment #: 130
I think native WI species should be given preference except in urban areas where more tolerant non-native species should be encouraged. it would be nice to see disease-resistant elms back on our streets. Also, I do think that fire should be used more often to control invasive species than it is now.
Comment #: 131
Reintroduction of ecological processes such as fiire and grazing. The Jack Pine Barrens are so important to the diversity of the State's natural heritage.
Comment #: 132
Fire is a misunderstood concept with the general population. Education relating to fire and it's effects on forest composition should be an issue of great importance as relating to the public. In order to increase the diversity of Wisconsin's forests, both compositionally and in terms of wildlife, I think it's very important to teach the public of fire and it's importance in nature, so we can use this management practice with public awarenessa and understanding.
Comment #: 133
Fire is a misunderstood concept with the general population. Education relating to fire and it's effects on forest composition should be an issue of great importance as relating to the public. In order to increase the diversity of Wisconsin's forests, both compositionally and in terms of wildlife, I think it's very important to teach the public of fire and it's importance in nature, so we can use this management practice with public awarenessa and understanding.
Comment #: 134
I believe apparently resistant trees should be encouraged and replanted when the opportunity presents itself. I am not aware of the value of jack pine forest over other pine or oak species.
Comment #: 135
we should address logging, camping, and recreational use and how easy it is to spread certain tree diseases. How is WI going to deal with foreign wood?
Comment #: 136
Perhaps this is a natural trend in succession that ought to be left alone?
Comment #: 137
The loss of species is a concerning one, and will influence the health of ecosystems. If many species are lost the forests as a whole will suffer from increased disease and infestations. Not a very pretty picture for our future forests
Comment #: 138
Even though a good number of people are opposed to them, clear cuts are the only real viable way to regenerate some species like aspen and jack pine, this should be addressed.
Comment #: 139
Not much can be done with these species and their causes for decline. We should deal with the problems caused by deer overbrousing.
Comment #: 140
Most people are aware of the deseases running through the trees.
Comment #: 141
I agree because of the jack pine. The others are a lost cause and not worthy of much discussion except for historical purposes. The jack pine is under our control and I personally think we are putting too much red pine on jack pine sites and we will pay a price for this at some point.
Comment #: 142
The preservation of NATIVE species should be a priority.
Comment #: 143
More importantly we should be looking at the staus of BIODIVERSITY not just single species management. Need to balance these concerns.
Comment #: 144
Biodiversity is important and I think it should be managed for. Depending on the use, it may or may not be economical to try and manage for these species.
Comment #: 145
We should manage for the future, unless you have the money to do a statewide habitat alteration and restoration project. These ecosystems are that you mentioned would be very labor intensive, time consuming and expensive to manage. We should be looking at purchasing more easements and tracts of land.
Comment #: 146
I don't think it is worth it to try to bring back chesnut, elm, or butternut. I agree that we need to promote jackpine forests, possibly introducing management techniques to reduce competition from other pines (e. g. fire). Our oak forests are in trouble, too, as fire has been removed from the landscape. I don't see mention or prairie ecosystems here, and I am concerned that they were ignored. Some of our oak forests maybe should be removed in favor of restoring prairies, too.
Comment #: 147
Yes, but from an ecological approach only.
Comment #: 148
Natural selection should not be tampered with in the forests. Ecological systems change, we should seek to limit the impact of man in the forests and encourage forests to steer their NATURAL course
Comment #: 149
Manipulation of the forests is management
as is no action. Biodiversity should
be a primary goal even in light of forests
evolving in a different climatic condition
than post-glacial primeval forests.
Comment #: 150
It is important to restore or recover depleted species.
Comment #: 151
It is important to restore or recover depleted species.
Comment #: 152
To a lay-person, species type doesn't
mean as much as how relavent these trees
affect bio-diversity for future generations.
Comment #: 153
Controlled fire, or less fire supression, is an important part of the ecologigal picture; fire should not be removed - as a tool or a natural happening.
Comment #: 154
Controlled fire, or less fire supression, is an important part of the ecologigal picture; fire should not be removed - as a tool or a natural happening.
Comment #: 155
Controlled fire, or less fire supression, is an important part of the ecologigal picture; fire should not be removed - as a tool or a natural happening.
Comment #: 156
I disagree only in that I don't believe that we should spend a lot of resources fighting the natural order. If we can maintain some of the species that are in decline, good, but why fight what nature is dictating. Work with what we're being given and do the best we can and hopefully we can avoid some of the mistakes that put these species in danger.
Comment #: 157
The presence of a dense stand of trees doesn't necessarily signify a healthy forest suitable for a diveristy of wildlife.
Comment #: 158
Beech and other development sensitive species along with decline in the genetic pool are being replaced with less quality choices. The natural community integrity is interrupted or lost.
Comment #: 159
Saving native species in as much a state as pre-settlement maximizes diversity and our options in the future.
Comment #: 160
This is a sad trend. All native tree species are valuable and should be protected and, where necessary, restored.
Comment #: 161
We must take every effort to save declining species.
Comment #: 162
There is a need to restore "barrens" landscapes in the appropriate places.
Comment #: 163
We should just let nature take its course, don't cut/remove any trees.
Comment #: 164
We need these species for good health on the trees so we should be looking after them
Comment #: 165
We should just let nature take its course, don't cut/remove any trees.
Comment #: 166
we need what we have
Comment #: 167
I think that we need to address this issue because the forest is a very important factor in our life and we need to preserve as much of it as we can.
Comment #: 168
American Chestnut should not be considered in the same context as elm and butternut since it is not a native species of Wisconsin.
Comment #: 169
American chestnut was never native to Wisconsin (its native range is no closer than Ohio). It may be declining in Wisconsin, but this a non-native species we are talking about. Your statement is disingenuous, as it implies that we are losing a native species. If you want ton increase jack pine, increase the frequency of fire.
Comment #: 170
What does the DNR propose to do about this in any
plan? The intent of the question is far from clear.
Comment #: 171
I think we should develope a plan
that allows us to plant some of
these trees without being able to
harvest them.
Comment #: 172
We shouldn't be killing off our native species.
Comment #: 173
Put a strict law on the hunting of some exotic species
Comment #: 174
where possible we should reintroducethose species lost because of disease.
Comment #: 175
Determine why natural resistance to these diseases and pests was compromised and correct these problems. Then allow passive recovery of these species.
Comment #: 176
I think some attention should be paid to retaining a population of these species. Has there been no progress on stopping the chestnut blight, butternut canker, Dutch elm disease? Is there research going on? At least we could identify individual specimens that still exist and plan to not molest them.
Comment #: 177
Diversification is key to reducing epidemic problems. While some species may be lost, monocultures must be broken up to prevent catastrophes.
Comment #: 178
Oak is OK, if it is Bur Oak in savannah settings.
Comment #: 179
A good mixture of trees would make our forest more attractive and valueable.
Comment #: 180
No you can only manage what you own
Comment #: 181
No you can only manage what you own
Comment #: 182
Regeneration of declining species should be included in future plans. Please note that diversity offers many options compared to pure plantings. Both for wildlife and disease control.
Comment #: 183
Let nature take it's course, things dieing and disappering have been happening for ever.
Last Revised: Monday July 30 2007
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